Why does drinking water help you lose weight?

ashesfromfire
ashesfromfire Posts: 867 Member
in Food and Nutrition
Don't get me wrong, I totally understand that drinking water is good for your health and everyone should do it to stay properly hydrated - but why does drinking water help you lose weight? I've heard that people often confuse thirst with hunger, so staying hydrated keeps you from feeling hungry, but what else.

Replies

  • ashesfromfire
    ashesfromfire Posts: 867 Member
    I think my title should have been "How does drinking water help you lose weight?" that sounds much better
  • kindasortachewy
    kindasortachewy Posts: 1,084 Member
    For me it makes me feel fuller longer and it makes my sodium levels go down so I'm not retaining water - it also aides in digestion and helps keep you 'regular' in the bathroom department
  • lwagnitz
    lwagnitz Posts: 1,321 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040105/drinking-water-may-speed-weight-loss
  • ashesfromfire
    ashesfromfire Posts: 867 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040105/drinking-water-may-speed-weight-loss

    so it really only has a limited effect on WL?
  • RogueNanna
    RogueNanna Posts: 23 Member
    I don't know the exact science of it, but if I don't drink around 64 oz a day, I GAIN weight. Once I start drinking enough water again I loose it. I suspect it has something to do with toxic by products when fat is released. Maybe the body trying to dilute toxic acid levels that aren't being flushed out? Seems like I read that somewhere, but I can't remember and can't vouch for it. But also, water is essential for all body functions and seems intuitive that if it is not adequately available everything would slow down. At the very least you may not notice the numbers go down on your scale because of fluid retention, and that can be discouraging.
  • slkehl
    slkehl Posts: 3,801 Member
    I've heard that people often confuse thirst with hunger, so staying hydrated keeps you from feeling hungry

    This is the only logical reason, as far as I can tell
  • Tank_Girl
    Tank_Girl Posts: 372 Member
    I find drinking a pint of water when im having beer cravings helps me avoid going to the pub, and i drink less coffee/tea as well which i tend to drink far too much of
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    bump for later :)
  • BonaFideUK
    BonaFideUK Posts: 313 Member
    I find water to be a good hunger suppressant. No, I'm not confusing thirst and hunger.
  • EmmaKarney
    EmmaKarney Posts: 690 Member
    It also prevents water retention - so your "scale weight" is lower.
  • NutellaAddict
    NutellaAddict Posts: 1,258 Member
    I pee all my weight off.
  • Jene41
    Jene41 Posts: 11
    I belive it is because it helps remove the toxins from your body. I've also found that if you add a small amount of lemon juice to water that helps control your hunger. Sometimes I've felt sluggish if I haven't been drinking plenty of water. :smile:
  • FitMrsR
    FitMrsR Posts: 226 Member
    I've always understood it to be because if you don't drink enough water your body hold on to what you give it but if you drink plenty your body sees no reason to retain so much hence losing water weight. Makes sense to me and I find that it definitely makes me feel better when I drink enough water.

    Edited for typos
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040105/drinking-water-may-speed-weight-loss

    so it really only has a limited effect on WL?

    Isnt that better than zero effect or negative effect?
  • Francl27
    Francl27 Posts: 26,371 Member
    I'm still honestly amazed about how you can confuse thirst for hunger. And really if we're all here I don't think it's because we only ate when we were hungry anyway, so it's pretty much a moot point as far as I'm concerned.

    I've never noticed the 'you'll feel fuller if you have water' thing though. If I'm hungry and drink a lot of water, I'm still hungry.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    Confusing thirst with hunger.

    Also, I read a magazine posting at a Y...15+ years ago...and forgot to get the citation....

    The kidneys use water to filter out toxins. If the kidneys don't have enough water to process, more of the toxin-clearing work is passed on to the liver.

    As a result, the liver is diverted from the task of converting food to glycogen (a form of energy storage - stored in the liver) and takes the shortcut of storing the food as fat.

    So drinking water keeps the kidneys and liver on task, resulting in less fat storage.

    I WOULD LOVE A CITATION FOR THIS....if indeed it is true....
  • RhonndaJ
    RhonndaJ Posts: 1,615 Member
    I don't really know that it does, I just know that I feel better when I drink a fair bit of water, so I do.

    But I figure the extra excursions to the bathroom don't hurt my overall movement factor.
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Water doesn't really do anything special for weight loss. If you are properly hydrated, water does not have magical properties.

    Basically, water has no calories. People will often replace a high calorie drink like juice or soda with water, which leads to a reduction in calories, which leads to weight loss. The water itself had nothing to do with it, and a reduction of calories from another source would accomplish the same results.
  • K_Serz
    K_Serz Posts: 1,299 Member
    Basically, water has no calories. People will often replace a high calorie drink like juice or soda with water, which leads to a reduction in calories, which leads to weight loss. The water itself had nothing to do with it, and a reduction of calories from another source would accomplish the same results.

    I was thinking the same thing when I read the webmd link above. They didnt mention that by NOT drinking 1 drink like juice or soda per day could also lead to even greater results (1) 140 cal drink for 365 days = over 51000 calories a year. (I guess heres where the diet soda debate gets created.....oh lord please no)

    They do have a point with the thermogenic effect though, so if thats the case drinking ice water should be more beneficial than drinking warm water?

    Maybe this is how it helps you lose weight? ---> Exercise until you cant exercise anymore. Drink water to keep you from dying. That should help. :tongue:
  • jsidel126
    jsidel126 Posts: 694 Member
    Possibly its the other foods consumed with your drinks...Other drinks (high sugar/alchohol) are typically paired with highly salted/sugared foods. Most people eat more foods that are highly seasoned as opposed to blander foods. Water is more typically consumed alone or with foods that are not as highly seasoned.

    If I am really thirsty (after a workout), the taste of water does not bother me. More typically though, I need something in the water to make it enjoyable.
  • WendyTerry420
    WendyTerry420 Posts: 13,274 Member
    Water doesn't really do anything special for weight loss. If you are properly hydrated, water does not have magical properties.

    Basically, water has no calories. People will often replace a high calorie drink like juice or soda with water, which leads to a reduction in calories, which leads to weight loss. The water itself had nothing to do with it, and a reduction of calories from another source would accomplish the same results.

    ^^ This
  • tigersword
    tigersword Posts: 8,059 Member
    Basically, water has no calories. People will often replace a high calorie drink like juice or soda with water, which leads to a reduction in calories, which leads to weight loss. The water itself had nothing to do with it, and a reduction of calories from another source would accomplish the same results.

    I was thinking the same thing when I read the webmd link above. They didnt mention that by NOT drinking 1 drink like juice or soda per day could also lead to even greater results (1) 140 cal drink for 365 days = over 51000 calories a year. (I guess heres where the diet soda debate gets created.....oh lord please no)

    They do have a point with the thermogenic effect though, so if thats the case drinking ice water should be more beneficial than drinking warm water?

    Maybe this is how it helps you lose weight? ---> Exercise until you cant exercise anymore. Drink water to keep you from dying. That should help. :tongue:
    The thermogenic effect has been shown to be so minor as to be, for practical purposes, nonexistent. The exact temperature of the water you drink might help you lose one quarter pound a year, if you can measure it precisely and make sure it's the exact same temperature EVERY time.
  • Silvara_11
    Silvara_11 Posts: 133 Member
    http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20040105/drinking-water-may-speed-weight-loss

    so it really only has a limited effect on WL?

    I wouldn't say limiting hunger pangs, water retention and stopping you from eating more at each meal is "limited" plus if you are drinking the recommended amount of water a day you will find less space in the belly for bad drinks like soda and juice which is full of sugar and non of of the good fiber. I love water!
  • Nikki_42
    Nikki_42 Posts: 298 Member
    There was an article in the news about this just this week. Basically it has to do with it being zero calories yet your body has to burn calories just absorbing it. That was the bottomline of the article. I doubt it's high calories, but every bit counts.

    Besides it's good for your skin/body. :flowerforyou:
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Water has minimal effect on actual weight loss. Keeping hydrated helps to relieve water retention and bloating which does show up on the scale, but is hardly the point of weight loss...but whatevs, a lot of people only care about the number on the scale. Hydration is non-the-less important to your overall health as it helps to metabolize the nutrients in your food...when you're dehydrated and your pea is bright yellow...that is nutrients that your body has not absorbed because your body is dehydrated. I like getting all my nutrients, so I try to stay hydrated. What's the big deal...drink your water.

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